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TSET Board of Directors Awards Healthy School and Community Incentive Grants

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 25, 2016) – Twenty-five incentive grants for communities and schools were approved last week at the TSET Board of Directors meeting.

Grants, totaling $334,125, were awarded to ten cities, seven school districts and eight school sites as part of the TSET Healthy Community and Healthy Schools incentive grant programs. Incentive grant funds are earmarked as part of a long-term, comprehensive effort to prevent Oklahoma kids from starting to smoke or become obese. This program, and other current TSET grant commitments will continue, even as the TSET Board of Directors address a decrease in endowment earnings and has postponed funding new grant initiatives.

Grants are awarded to communities and schools that have implemented strategies to increase healthy opportunities for residents and students. TSET offers grants to communities and schools that met have criteria such as tobacco-free policies, health and wellness policies and increased opportunities for fruits and vegetables and physical activity.

TSET incentive grants are available to communities and schools that have received certification through the Certified Healthy Oklahoma program, which is a partnership between the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, the Oklahoma Turning Point Council, the State Chamber and the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

TSET’s incentive grants amounts are based on population and enrollment and the types of strategies implemented. Communities and schools are able to determine how the incentive funds will be used to promote health in their communities. Grant funds are frequently used to leverage other funds to projects that advance health.

“We are proud to recognize communities and schools that are making the healthy choice the easy choice,” said TSET Executive Director Tracey Strader. “By taking the actions recommended by the Certified Healthy Oklahoma and TSET Incentive Grant programs, these communities and schools are making meaningful changes that encourage Oklahomans to live a healthy lifestyle and prevent tobacco use and obesity before it takes root. Combined with other prevention efforts, these communities and schools are working to reduce the demand on an already stressed health care system; saving lives and saving money.”

The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations working towards shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working across the state, by cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and by working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public's health. TSET. Better Lives Through Better Health.